GE Aviation is investing more than $200 million to construct two factories on 100 acres in Huntsville. When the factories are fully operational later this decade, they are expected to employ up to 300 people. The plants are expected to be completed by the first half of 2018. Production begins in 2018. GE expects to begin hiring the hourly workforce later this year.

“GE Aviation is creating a fully integrated supply chain for producing CMC components in large volume, which is unique to the United States,” said Sanjay Correa, Vice President who leads the industrialization of advanced technologies at GE Aviation. “The new factories in Alabama are vital to this strategy. We are deeply gratified by the tremendous local, state, and national support for this effort.”

While meeting critical U.S. needs for CMC materials for commercial and government-funded programs, the new plants will support GE and its international partners in selling and supporting jet engines and gas turbines worldwide. For example, approximately 61% of GE Aviation’s 2015 revenues of $25 billion were derived from customers based outside the United States. GE and its partner companies sell most 70% of its commercial jet engines to non-U.S. companies.

"This GE facility puts a global spotlight on Huntsville as a leader in the most progressive, ceramic matrix composite technologies," said Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle. "Our community is proud to provide the talent, support, and environment for this revolutionary advancement in materials."

"GE Aviation is at the forefront of innovation in aerospace manufacturing, and I am excited to see Alabama expand its partnership with this industry leader,” Governor Robert Bentley said. "This project shows the sophistication of GE Aviation's technology while also demonstrating the company’s confidence in Alabama to supply a skilled workforce.”

One plant of the Huntsville plants will produce silicon carbide (SiC) ceramic fiber. It will be the first such operation in the United States. Today, the only large-scale SiC ceramic fiber factory in the world is operated by NGS Advanced Fibers in Japan, which is a joint company of Nippon Carbon, GE, and Safran of France.

The second factory will use this SiC ceramic fiber to produce the unidirectional CMC tape necessary to fabricate CMC components.

October 27, 2015: GE Aviation announced today that it will build two adjacent facilities in Huntsville, Alabama, to mass-produce silicon carbide (SiC) materials used to manufacture ceramic matrix composite components (CMCs) for jet engines and land-based gas turbines. This is cutting edge technology that will further our regional position as a leader in high-tech and advanced manufacturing. It will also grow our commercial manufacturing footprint in the aviation industry.

State of Alabama and North Alabama regional economic development partners announced the news today at the State Capitol in Montgomery. GE Aviation, an operating unit of GE, is a world-leading provider of jet engines, components and integrated systems for commercial and military aircraft. GE Aviation has a global service network to support these offerings.

Officials with GE Aviation said Huntsville was an ideal pick for its new facilities because of the city’s skilled workforce, a history of technology and innovation, existing utility infrastructure, local, state and regional support.

“Establishing the new GE factories in Alabama is a very significant step in developing the supply chain we need in order to produce CMC components in large volume,” said Sanjay Correa, Vice President, CMC Program at GE Aviation.

GE Aviation will invest more than $200 million to construct two factories on 100 acres in Huntsville. When the factories are operational later this decade, they are expected to employ up to 300 people. One plant will produce silicon carbide (SiC) ceramic fiber. It will be the first such operation in the United States. The adjacent GE factory will use the SiC ceramic fiber to produce the unidirectional CMC tape necessary to fabricate CMC components.

The Huntsville facilities will be the first in the U.S. to produce SiC ceramic fiber on a large industrial scale, and the demand for CMCs is expected to grow tenfold over the next decade.

“GE is an innovation company and Huntsville is an innovation city. This announcement by GE Aviation is just the latest chapter in that history of innovation,” said Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle. “The products that will be manufactured here represent the future of aerospace. We are proud that Huntsville will help GE Aviation change the way we travel through the skies.”

For more than 20 years, scientists at GE’s Global Research Centers and GE’s industrial businesses have worked to develop CMCs for commercial applications—and now the company is bringing this cutting-edge technology to Huntsville. GE Aviation leaders said the use of lightweight, heat-resistant CMCs in the hot section of GE jet engines is a breakthrough for the jet propulsion industry. CMCs comprise SiC ceramic fibers in a SiC matrix, enhanced by proprietary coatings.

Madison County Commission Chairman Dale Strong said collaboration was key for this project. “Every economic development effort requires a tremendous amount of teamwork and that is what makes our region unique. To get this project across the finish line, we established a strong coalition, including the City of Huntsville, Madison County, and Limestone County. Our team works together beyond geographical lines—through regional collaboration—working together as one for the benefit of our entire community.”

Limestone County Commission Chairman Mark Yarborough said his county is ready to get to work with GE Aviation. "On behalf of the Limestone County Commission and the Citizens of Limestone County, we would like to welcome GE Aviation home to Limestone County! We are excited that GE Aviation has chosen to be part of our corporate family, and look forward to the outstanding future this presents for us all.”

Details of the level of support provided by these regional partners will be provided once the regional elected bodies have had the opportunity to vet the agreements.